Wood-burning stove tile surround ideas – 10 stylish ways to frame your fire
If you’re the proud owner of a wood-burning stove, you might want to consider surrounding it with practical and stylish tiles. A beautifully tiled fireplace surround can completely transform a room and it’s an easy way to add character, rustic charm or a more minimal, modern twist.
Whether your stove is in an existing fireplace, inset in the wall or freestanding, there are many ways to tile around it.
Keep reading to discover the best tiles to use and be inspired by our pick of the most gorgeous tile surround ideas.
Image credit: @jayne.s.davies
Recommended Tile: Diagonal Blue
Can I use tiles around my wood burner?
Yes, tiles are the ideal choice for surrounding a wood-burning stove. Unless your fire is more than 20cm away from the tiles (in which case you can use most types) it’s advisable to go for porcelain or stone tiles. Porcelain tiles absorb heat in the same way as fire-resistant bricks, making them a perfect choice.
If you are tiling under a stove as well as around it, opt for porcelain or stone tiles. They’re extremely durable and won’t scratch or chip easily.
Wood-burning stove surround tile ideas
If you’re looking to tile a traditional fireplace alcove, the wall behind a freestanding wood burner or the entire chimney breast, we’ve found the hottest stove tile surround ideas to get you fired up:
Splitface tiles
One of the most rustic-looking tiles, splitface tiles can be made from real stone or realistic stone-effect porcelain. Perfect for creating a rugged and practical surround for a stove, splitface tiles won’t scratch or mark easily and are extremely low-maintenance. These tiles look equally attractive cladding a chimney breast or used inside a fireplace alcove.
Image credit: @fire.inspired
Recommended Tile: Cubics Grey
Feature tiles
A fireplace surround is an ideal place to have fun with colour and bold tile designs. A small area, it’ll easily take any colour or pattern that you can throw at it. If the rest of your room is neutrally decorated, bold tiles make the perfect frame for a wood-burning stove.
Image credit: @oldhousenewroad
Star tiles with a stone hearth
You only need to scroll through a few interior social media accounts to see that vintage-style star tiles are a popular choice for surrounding a wood-burning stove. Made from porcelain and usually finished in a matt texture, they’re beautiful as well as practical.
Star tiles will go well with many other styles of tile, from plain metro tiles to brightly coloured and natural stone tiles. A distressed style, they’re perfect for hiding soot stains!
Image credit: @the_house_of_finishing_touches
Recommended Tile: Regal Azul
Patterned tiles
If you have a freestanding woodburning stove, you’ll need to make sure that the walls around it can withstand the heat that the stove emits. Tiles are a practical choice and you can opt for plain or patterned styles.
Create a quirky vibe with mismatched Morrocan-style tiles. You can finish the tiles with plastic or metal edging strips or go for a more rustic wooden frame.
Image credit: @refoundobjects
Recommended Tile: Waxman Rustic Heritage
Mosaic tiles
Tiles that line fireplaces are often rustic in style, but they don’t need to be. Any type of stone or porcelain tile will be suitable for use around a wood-burning stove.
You might want to avoid high gloss tiles in the hearth where they are likely to get scratched, but you can go for detailed mosaic tiles in a gorgeous stone or stone-effect finish for a high-end look to your fireplace.
Image credit: @the.house.of.hugo
Recommended Tile: Pearl Brick Mosaic
Matchstick tiles
Matchstick mosaic tiles are understated and modern and ideal if you’re looking for something a little different to surround your wood burner. You can choose to lay the tiles vertically or horizontally and you can vary the look with different coloured grouts.
Image credit: @little_savage_life
Metro tiles
Add a traditional touch to a fireplace with metro tiles. Available in a huge range of colours, these are one of the most versatile tile options for your fireplace. You can lay subway tiles in many different ways, from the classic herringbone to more contemporary stacked designs, and combine colours for added interest.
Image credit: @myvictorianhouselove
Recommended Tile: Rio Verde
Colourful tiles
A fireplace alcove provides the perfect place to experiment with colour and try something different. Whether it’s going for that shade of pink you’ve always wanted or adding a bright pop of colour with red, orange, yellow or electric blue, you won’t regret it!
Image credit: @linsdrabwell
Recommended Tile: Ava Rosa Decor
Tiled wall
Make even more of a feature of a freestanding stove by tiling the whole wall behind it. Practical and eye-catching, it’ll transform your room and provide a handy space for stacking logs and fireplace tools.
Image credit: @oldcoachhouseliving
Recommended Tile: Regal Verde
White tiles
If a minimal look is more your thing, consider cladding a chimney breast in white metro tiles. Laying them in a vertical stack will look bang up to date and help to make the room feel bigger.
Don’t be put off by white tiles near a sooty stove, they’re really easy to clean and if you opt for black or grey grout, you won’t need to worry about stains.
Image credit: @kenilworth.house
Recommended Tile: Rio Blanco
Wood burner tile surround tile tips
- Opt for porcelain or stone tiles as they’ll easily be able to withstand the heat from a wood-burning stove.
- If you’re using tiles for a hearth, check the hearth depth requirements.
- Have fun with colour and patterns, you can be really creative in a small area and pick vivid colours and striking patterns.
- Because the tiles around a stove will come into contact with soot, it’s a good idea to protect light-coloured tile grout or go for a dark colour instead.
If you’re inspired to tile the space around your wood-burning stove, Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of tiles to choose from. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.